antiarrhythmic

antiarrhythmic

Preventing or alleviating irregularities in the force or rhythm of the heart.

n.

An antiarrhythmic drug.

antiarrhythmic

[-ərith′mik]

Etymology: Gk, anti + rhythmos, rhythm

1 pertaining to a procedure or substance that prevents, alleviates, or corrects an abnormal cardiac rhythm.

2 an antiarrhythmic agent. A defibrillator that delivers a precordial electric shock is often used to restore a normal rhythm to rapid, irregular atrial or ventricular contractions. A pacemaker may be implanted in a patient with an extremely slow heart rate or another arrhythmia. The electrode catheter of an external pacemaker may be threaded through a vein to the heart in cases of ventricular standstill or complete heart block. The major antiarrhythmic drugs are lidocaine hydrochloride, and a combination of disopyramide phosphate, procainamide hydrochloride, and quinidine. The antiadrenergic blocking agent propranolol hydrochloride may be used in treating arrhythmias. Isoproterenol hydrochloride is indicated for complete heart block and ventricular arrhythmias requiring an increased force of cardiac contractions to establish a normal rhythm. Atropine may be used in the treatment of bradycardia, a sedative in the treatment of tachycardia, and digitalis in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Calcium channel blockers control arrhythmias by inhibiting calcium ion influx across the plasma membrane of cardiac muscle, thus slowing atrioventricular conduction and prolonging the effective refractory period within the AV node. See also arrhythmia.

antiarrhythmic

adjective Referring to an agent or mechanism that counters cardiac arrhythmias noun An agent that prevents or ameliorates cardiac arrhythmias

antiarrhythmic

1. preventing or alleviating cardiac arrhythmias.

2. an agent that prevents or alleviates cardiac arrhythmias.

antiarrhythmic drugs

include quinidine, procainamide, lidocaine, beta-adrenergic blockers such as propranolol, autonomic drugs including atropine and epinephrine, and digitalis.

BYSTOLIC can exacerbate the effects of myocardial depressants or inhibitors of AV conduction, such as certain calcium antagonists (particularly of the phenylalkylamine [verapamil] and benzothiazepine [diltiazem] classes), or antiarrhythmic agents, such as disopyramide.

Key costs included roughly $9,500 for ablation, $1,200 for cardioversion, $109 per month for antiarrhythmic agents, $2,600 per hospitalization for cardioversion, and $4,700 per ablation-related adverse event, with a 3% probability of such a complication.

Levofloxacin should be avoided in patients with known risk factors such as prolongation of the QT interval, patients with uncorrected hypokalemia, and patients receiving class IA (quinidine, procainamide), or class III (amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic agents.

CACAF involved 137 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF refractory to two or more different antiarrhythmic agents who were randomized to catheter ablation plus antiarrhythmic drug therapy or antiarrhythmic drug therapy alone.

LEVAQUIN should be avoided in patients with known risk factors such as prolongation of the QT interval, patients with uncorrected hypokalemia, and patients receiving class IA (quinidine, procainamide), or class III (amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic agents.

This was a highly significant and positive result, giving some proof of principle that antiarrhythmic agents may have a place in treating patients with an ICD [implantable cardioverter defibrillator]," commented Arthur J.

Kowey has served as a paid consultant to and speaker for Sanofi-Synthelabo, the company developing dronedarone, and in similar capacities for numerous other pharmaceutical companies developing new antiarrhythmic agents.

In addition to Lescol and Lescol XL, Reliant's product portfolio includes: DynaCirc(R) (isradipine) and DynaCirc(R) CR (an extended-release formulation) for the treatment of hypertension; InnoPran(R) XL (propranolol HCl), the only bedtime-dosed beta-blocker for the treatment of hypertension; Rythmol(R) (propafenone) and Rythmol(R) SR (a controlled-release formulation), antiarrhythmic agents approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients without structural heart disease; Antara(TM) (fenofibrate) capsules approved for adjunct treatment of elevated cholesterol and triglycerides; and Omacor(R) (omega-3 ethyl esters), under an exclusive license agreement with Pronova Biocare AS, for the treatment of very high triglycerides.

Given the lack of any evidence that these drugs improve survival, antiarrhythmic agents should generally be avoided in patients with non-life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, even if the patients are experiencing unpleasant, but not life-threatening, symptoms or signs.

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